Growing old is no picnic (physically speaking) but it has
it’s benefits, too. Along with a few discounts, you can also draw upon inherent
wisdom that comes with advanced years. Coming to terms with old age is the
driving comedic theme behind Going in
Style, a remake (of sorts) of a 1979 movie by the same title (starring Art
Carney, George Burns and Lee Strasberg).

This time around, we get Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and
Alan Arkin playing the roles of Willie, Joe and Albert, three old pals and
retirees living in Brooklyn. Willie and Albert share an apartment, while Joe
lives with his divorced daughter and granddaughter. When the trio discovers
that corporate outsourcing has obliterated their pension, they hatch a plan to
rob a bank to recover their lost earnings. They hire Jesus (John Ortiz), a man
with “criminal knowledge” to teach them all the tricks of the bank robbing
trade. The men carry out their scheme and make off with the money, only to find
that the FBI is hot on their trial. It will take luck and a little karma if the
fellas are to get away without getting caught.

Going in Style is
moderately funny, mostly grabbing for jokes at the expense of the elderly.
There are a few supporting roles that add to the geriatric flavor of the film,
including Christopher Lloyd as an associate suffering the onset of dementia and
Ann Margret as Albert’s love interest. Having experienced such issues of old
age with parents and in-laws first-hand, I can attest that the “Golden Years”
aren’t always as funny nor promiscuous as Going
in Style makes it seem. Also, if you think you’ve already seen Morgan
Freeman yuk his way through old age on screen, you’d be right (The Bucket List, RED, Last Vegas).

As for similarities with the original 1979 version, the
contemporary Going in Style has very
few, other than they are both movies about three old guys who rob a bank. The
new version is void of negative consequences for the main characters, while the
original had much darker themes. Robbing a bank without penalty makes the new Going in Style seem more like a fantasy
movie with a “Scooby-Do” ending all wrapped up in a nice, happy package.